The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-27
SUGGESTIONSFOR STUDENTS
Ideas About Educational Matters Pre-
scented by College Professors.
Interesting Discussions on the Opening Day
Of Their Annual Meeting-Subjects That
Will Be Considered at TO-Day'S Sessions.

yesterday afternoon, with all the institutions
represented except the Bedford and Union
Christian colleges. Prof W. w. Parsons. OF
the State Normal School. presided. and Prof
Stanley Coulter. Of Purdue performed the du-
ties OF secretary. The business of the associa-
ton was quickly transacted, as it consisted in
financial report from Prof. j. P. D. John, the
treasurer, and in the appointment of audit
ing committee, and one to nominate officers for
the ensuing year After this came the
reading of papers, the first being that OF
BIOLOGY in the College Course" by
Prof. c. w. Hargitt, Moores Hill College
The Professor held that this study IS an
important educational factor. and should be
given much space in regular courses as is
proportional to any other study. The time
for it should not be specified. as it would be
better to have it optional, the students could
avail themselves of the privilege when they
could do it without detracting from its mpor-
lance q branch Of learning in attending to
several other studies the course might demand.
Enough of biology shonld be prescribed in order
to make the student familiar with the principal
facts and methods of the science. The learning
of technicalites could be left to those who might
elect to pursue the study beyond the prescribed
course In the discussion that followed no ad-
verse criticism was offered. Prof. J. NJ. Coulter,
of Wabash College, particularly, gave the views
expressed in the paper his support
Prof. Thomas J. Bassett, of DePauw Uni
versity, read paper on 1.-THE Educational Value
OF the Classics He supported his conclusion
as to the Importance of the classics by referring
to the plan tried in Germany and this country
in admitting to the universities on equal footing
the graduates OF preparatory schools where
Greek and Latin were taught thoroughly only
in part. The German gymnasia requires Latin
and Greek, while the real schulz has no Greek in
it's course and teaches only half Latin. The lat
ter holds the relation to the
classical schools that the purely scientific
schools in this country do This plan of admis-
sion failed after ten years trial At Amherst the
same plan was adopted, but there. too the pro-
fessors had to 60 back to the old requirements
for admission. a thorough preparatory knowl-
edge of Latin and Greek. Professor Barrett
maintains that thorough knowledge OF the
classical languages is great help to the scien-
fists. the terms they almost
wholly derived from Greek and Latin. They
are also the languages of thought
and reflection, for the Anglo Saxon words refer
to the more sensuous relations of life. All com
pound words in the English language de-
rived from either the Greek and Latin, the
short ones being of Anglo-Saxon origin; hence
the classics great aid to correct orthog
raphy, for they familiar4ze the students with
the derivation of words. They also lay foun-
dation for a mastery of modern languages, es-
pecially French. Spanish and Italian. Modern
statecraft and laws come from Roms.
while civilization gets its aesiheticisn
and philosophy from Greece il does
religion from Judea. All are SO interviewer in
modern civilization that they cannot be eradi-
Gated. The true idea of education ia to free the
intellect. 1t is the ignorant man who is not
thinker. and accepts his party, religion and Gus
toms through tradition No studies SUI
perior to the classics for calling into play all
the faculties of the mind. The discussion was
carried on by Prof. N. c. Stevens OF Purdue;
Prof. Vsyhinger, of Moore's Hill; Prof. Coulter,
of Wabash College; President Kiracofe of
Hartsville. and President Martin. of De PAW
The first paper at the evening session
upon 'Estheticism," presented by Miss Mary
Edith Orr, professor of art in Coates College.
The reader accounted for the want of interest
in art in America by lack of public monumental
works, by diversion of energies to the acquisi-
tion of money. and by the iconoclastic religion
of the public at large in such matters was to
be explained by the ignoring or
in the colleges pretending, to give
liberal education. After al analysis of art
and definition of terms often misused she
traced branch by branch the effect upon the
mind of instruction in this. department, and
courses. Presidents Martin, of DePauw and
Smart, of Purdue in the discussions that fol-
lowed, attested the value of such training and
expressed the belief that it would soon become
education.
President C. H. Kiracofe. of Hartsville
being, "The Relations of Church and State in
the Work OF Education" He held that
elementary instruction should be under the
control Of the State, and that collegiate educa-
ton should be carried out in denominatonal
colleges. but the State should have the direction
of advanced or special training. The denomi-
national colleges would receive student at
age when it is especially desirable for him to
receive moral instruction. For special train
ing the State is more able to provide adequate
facilities than the denominational colleges.
In the last paper OF the evening programme
the president, W. w. Parsons OF the State Nor
NAL School, treated OF Metaphysics as a neces-
sary study in higher education. He said that
general education seeks the complete emancipa-
ton OF the individual, through self-effort and
activity, from every bias and trammel of nature.
1t proposes to make clear. accurate thinkers and
resoute, principled doors, and in this work
carries the student into range of
pure thought which takes the place of percep-
ton, conception and ordinary logical processes.
He then developed the four phases of netaphvs-
ical study seen in psychology, logic ethics
and phyilosoph y proper. These studies should
have place in course o. general instruction
designed to transform man produc: of nat
ure into free, rational. truly ethical and spir-
itual being.
The sessions of the association will be contin-
ued to-day, when papers will be read by Prof.
j. w. Moncrief of Franklin College, on s.The
Laboratory Method in Teaching History" by
Prof. c. A. Waldo. of the Rose Polytechnic In
on descriptive UeomeGry as q Ol5cl-
plinary Study" by Prof. j. NJ. Coulter, of Wa
bash College, on college Professors and Their
and by Prof. o. j. Craig. of Purdue,
on college Discipline" In the afternoon
Sociology as College Study will be treated
by President j. j. Mills, of Earlham College;
Church and Science" by Prof. o. P. Hay of
by DIR. j. S. Kingsley of Indiana University.
At Plymouth Church, this afternoon, the
State Teachers Association will begin it's SEES
sion and tonight the executive committee of
the Indiana Academy of Science is to hold
meeting at the New Denison. Tomorrow the
session will be held in Superior Court
room No 2. The executive committee of the
Teachers Association will meet at the Grand
Hotel this morning.
The State Teachers Meeting.
The thirty-fourth annual session of the State
Teachers Association will be held at Plymouth
Church, beginning Wednesday and continuing
through Thursday and Friday. The exercises
oeen at o'clock tomorrow evening, swith the